INAUGURAL SPEECH 2013

INAUGURAL SPEECH
June 24, 2013 @ Maasin City Gym

In 2007, the margin was 898 votes, a split decision.  In 2010, the margin was 12,763 votes, a unanimous decision.  Now in 2013, the winning margin is 16,202 votes, a knockout victory!

This time our opponent has the backing of the DILG, the PNP, the Philippine Army, the dominant Liberal Party and no less than the endorsement of the President of the Philippines.  But I have the backing of the Almighty and the intercession of Mama Mary.

It's a rare privilege for a Mayor of Maasin to serve three terms.  An honor only ex-Gov. Alfredo Bantug and Gov. now Cong.-elect Damian Mercado had the opportunity to serve.  

First of all I thank the will of God and the grace of Mama Mary for the success.  Vox Populi Vox Dei, the voice of the people is the voice of God.  

I thank all our barangay chairmen, councilors and leaders for leading our team to a sweep from Congressman Mian down to Councilor Tony Cardoza including Dr. Berting Lagumbay who won in Maasin. Since 2001 elections, it was always straight for Team Mercado in the city. 

That is why I took my oath before the Liga ng mga Barangay President Hon. Nacional Mercado to emphasize the roles of the barangay in the elections as well as during the course of our programs and projects.  

I thank the Mercado brothers, Oging and Mian, who always steered our luxury vessel to its port of destination, the port of victory.  With the support of the whole Mercado family.  

I thank Vice Mayor Effie Abiera Sabandal and the City Council, elected and reelected, for working with me as a team.  You were with me through thick and thin, sa kalipay ug kasakit, sa kainit ug katugnaw, sa kabusog ug kagutom.  Bisan kun apil sa Team Pasmo. Tunay na walang iwanan! Kahit kailan kaibigan.  

I thank all supporters who provided financial and logistical assistance, those who offered prayers and petitions, words of encouragements, and those who simply casted their votes.

Sa mga wala moboto ug nagpatuo nga miboto, sa mga PIKAS MACHINES, salamat gihapon.  Ang Diyos ray mag-igo kaninyo.  Kay samtang ang samad maalim apan ang uwat magpabilin, basta magpabilin pa ang protesta ug keha.

To our Barangay City Hall, who gave us about 99%, the highest voting percentage, I will give you your reward in due time especially during Christmas.

To our Maasin City College family, faculty, students and staff, salamat kaajo sa injong pagpalujo kanamo apil ang injong ginikanan ug kaparyentehan. One facebook website placed me in the category of Bishop Sofronio Hacbang, founder of Saint Joseph College and Dr. Angel Espina, founder of the College of Maasin.  Dako kaajo ni nahong garbo bisan wa ra ko sa kumajingking nila.  Because of you, I will stay at the city government beyond 2016 to protect, develop and nurture MCC for the future of the youth of Maasin.  

Most of all I thank my family, especially Chona my renewed bride, Mama Esper, Mabel and Milko, Mallory, Marton and Marlon, akong mga kapamilya, mga kapuso, mga kapatid, mga kabarkada, usahay ma second ug third priority na sila kay unahon ang serbisyo.  Di lang tayo pampamilya pang sports pa.  Pang proyekto pa.  I am the first politician in our immediate family and I will be the last. 

Our program of government will still be anchored on the 13 point agenda which will be continued in the next three years. Market and Business Improvement, Agricultural Production, Livelihood Assistance, Orderliness and Peace Promotion, Nutrition and Health Services, Education for the Masses, Youth Empowerment, Sports Excellence, Anti-Smoking and Anti-Drug Campaign, Mangrove and Environment Protection, Advertisements for Tourism, Concreting and Maintenance of Roads, and Overall Barangay Development.  

We will make Maasin a more competitive city in Region 8 in all aspects of governance.  We are the most peaceful city in the region, we are the number one city in nutrition and anti-smoking in the region and one of the best in the entire country.  And today i will renew my declaration of THE WAR AGAINST SMOKING.  For your wife, your children and children's children.  

Ours is the number one city council in region 8 and Vice Mayor Effie Sabandal is one of the most outstanding vice mayors in the entire Philippines.  I would like to express my desire to return to my home for 15 years, the city council, after my term expires in 2016.  Our target is to make Maasin a first class city in the next ten years. 

We are one of the first LGUs to receive the Seal of Good Housekeeping from Secretary Jesse Robredo for the bronze award.  We are now a Silver Awardee in this category.  And we will Go for the Gold.  We are second to Tacloban in the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi in Region 8.  We also qualified for the Seal of Disaster Preparedness.  We will aspire for the Gawad Galing Pook next year preferably on our anti-smoking campaign.

We are second to Tacloban in tourism in the entire region 8.  We are one of the 1000 cities in the whole world recognized by the World Health Organization in healthy lifestyle.  We are number six in the entire country in boxing.  We are a national awardee in Brigada Eskwela for Ibarra National High School.  We are number one in anti-leprosy, anti-filariasis, anti-TB, anti-rabies, and smoke free college in MCC in the entire region 8.

More investors, more commercial areas, more awards, more concrete roads, more covered courts, more schools, more water systems, more rural electrification projects, more sports heroes, more tourists and visitors, more new buildings and structures, more health and nutrition programs, more board passers for MCC and more blessings from God.  

We will always be prepared Laging Handa.  On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my city, the City of Maasin.  To help other people at all times.  To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

My administration will be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.  

We welcome constructive criticisms but will not listen to destructive criticisms.  Crab mentality is good only for the mental hospital.  

US President John F. Kennedy said: "Forgive your enemies.  But never forget their names."

Daghang salamat ug Mabuhay ang Siyudad sa Maasin!